At Lavoie’s last hearing, the board had decided to wait until Dec. 15 at the latest to consider new information pertaining to his application. Several board member present Thursday echoed reservations they had voiced at the Nov. 6 hearing, arguing that the city had acted improperly in submitting possibly prejudicial disciplinary records to Lavoie’s examining physician.

Finance Director Carl Erlacher conceded that he wanted to take every reasonable measure to make sure Lavoie had a fair application process.

Drew was less amenable to the decision.

“I think we have some board members here who are doctor-shopping on behalf of the applicant,” said the mayor.

Christine Bourne and Councilwoman Sandra Russo-Driska countered that it had in fact been the city thumbing the scales by submitting disciplinary records to one of the physicians who had already examined Lavoie.

City Attorney Brig Smith said that, in sending the comprehensive packet, “my intent had been to sort of replicate the workers’ compensation process since we are still kind of in the middle of it.”

Michael McAuliffe, an attorney who represents the city on some workers’ comp matters, clarified that it behooves the city to turn over everything it deems pertinent during compensation claims.

Andrew Houlding, an attorney for Lavoie, said the mayor was “adamantly opposed” to agreeing to a pension. “He’s got this thing going for Chris Lavoie.”

Lavoie has maintained that his demotion was a way to silence or discredit him. He and other officers, all of whom have since been fired or were already retired, have alleged that Chief William McKenna solicited prescription narcotics from the officers under his command.